A day or so after i hoped we’d seen the worst of winter, i woke up Sunday morning to a good covering of snow outside. It snowed pretty much all day which to many would be an inconvenience but to someone growing up in Australia it was more a novelty.
Pretty much the whole of Tokyo got snow from what i hear. I managed to take a few pictures on my way to the shop to get some breakfast before retreating back home to the warmth of the couch.
This weekend we have a public holiday to celebrate National Foundation Day (建国記念の)日and i’m heading up with a group of Friends to Gunma Prefecture, a 4 hour bus ride from Tokyo, to spend some time at Kusatsu Onsen where i’ll no doubt eat and drink too much.
Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts, blessed with large volumes of high quality hot spring water, said to cure every illness but lovesickness.
Well known as hot spring resort for many centuries, Kusatsu’s fame was further boasted by German doctor Erwin von Baelz, who served at the imperial court in the late 1800s and recommended Kusatsu for its water’s health benefits.
Situated at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu also offers skiing in winter and hiking during the rest of the year to be enjoyed in combination with hot spring bathing.
Kusatsu is located along Japan’s Romantic Road.
I’ll be taking my camera with me, but unfortunately i won’t be taking my snowboard, i still hope i can get up the snow a few times this season and have done the research on how and where, so it’s only a matter if time. Fingers crossed this snow onsen trip ends up better than the last.
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No snow down here in Kyushu – (in the mountains – however not in the cities)
But, it sure has been cold.
Any last night Nathan? We had more here … pretty much the whole trip from Shinjuku to Hon-Atsugi had a fresh covering.
Neil, you really gotta take away that picture of your foot…
-Mike
I am going to have to make it out there sometime. I’ve been to Dogo Onsen in Shikoku and Arima Onsen near Kobe. I didn’t drink that much, but the food was delicious. Osaka barely gets any snow at all. Kyoto gets some though. I prefer more tropical climates even though I live in a cold city.
Those are great photos Neil. I had only been in Tokyo a few days when you took those photos. Well, soon enough the snow will return.